Thursday, May 21, 2015

The NRA recently re-stated its longstanding support for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a program that was originally mandated by the Brady Bill in 1993.

In a statement directed at the North Carolina Sherriff Association last week, the NRA said:

“[North Carolina’s] antiquated and inefficient system has been in place for nearly a century and was enacted long before the age of computers and computerized records. Unfortunately, the [North Carolina Sherriff’s Association] has determined it would like to continue to use discretion to deny permits to purchase handguns, rather than simply use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by the majority of other states.”

The NRA has publicly supported NICS for years, arguing it should be “improved” and “limited” rather than completely eradicated.

The reasons for this are almost certainly political. As The Truth About Guns pointed out recently, the NRA would take a serious hit with lawmakers and the public if it came out against any and all criminal background checks.

But this “compromise” approach gives the enemy a permanent foundation to expand gun control.

Just yesterday, New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney introduced a bill that would require anyone buying or selling firearms to undergo a NICS background check, and further require that every gun transfer be reported to the United States Attorney General.

Maloney’s bill has no chance of passing, but it won’t be the last. For as long as NICS is around, the anti-gun crowd will keep using it as a foundation for laws that limit our rights.

By continuing to publicly support an unconstitutional system, the NRA is playing with fire.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Michigan State Senator Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) is in police custody after firing a gun during a domestic argument with his ex-wife.

Police responded to a domestic dispute at Smith’s home in Detroit at 1 AM on Sunday morning. Witnesses reported that Smith fired multiple rounds from a shotgun toward his ex-wife’s car, a 2015 Mercedes Benz.

Smith reportedly fled the scene after the shooting, but “made himself available” to police the next day. He is expected to face charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property.

Smith, a Democrat, has amassed a lengthy anti-gun voting record during his four years in the Michigan legislature. Blogger Rob Hoey wrote (via Bearing Arms):

Sen. Virgil Smith (D-MI) represents parts of Detroit, Dearborn and all of Allen Park. As a Democrat, it should come as no surprise that he is rated at 0% by the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Ownership.

Smith has voted anti-gun since taking office in the House of Representatives back in 2003 to 2008, and now as a state senator.

The NRA rated Smith ‘D’ regarding his voting on gun rights, which translates to 21% overall.

He voted ‘nay’ on SB 59 bill that: ‘Expands Areas Where Concealed Weapons are Authorized,’ and voted ‘nay’ on SB 789 that ‘Amends Firearm Licensing Procedures,’ that makes obtaining a license easier but with more training.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Republican leaders in Washington are working furiously to pass a massive free trade deal, the Trans Pacific Partnership, some time this month. In their desperation to get the deal done, they are giving President Obama an opportunity to advance the worst parts of his agenda – including gun control.

The trade agreement, negotiated in secret by Republican leaders and the President, would give Obama so-called “fast track authority” to ratify the agreement without permission from Congress.

This would give Obama the power to insert any restrictions he wants into the trade agreement -- including ones that infringe on the rights of American citizens -- without a majority vote from the Senate.

Some conservatives are already wondering whether Obama might use this power to add language to the bill aimed at bringing foreign workers into the United States. Senator Jeff Sessions said Sunday there are “numerous ways” the deal “could facilitate immigration increases above current law – and precious few ways anyone in Congress could stop its happening.”

But Obama could just as easily use this authority to sneak a gun ban into the bill. It wouldn’t be the first time he tried to use treaty power to impose gun control, having tried (and failed) to pass the UN Arms Trade Treaty last year.

What makes you think he won’t be tempted to do it again?

If and when Obama uses “fast track” to push his anti-gun agenda, Republican leaders will have no one to blame but themselves.